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As I have mentioned several times throughout the years in the Leaf-Chronicle Opinion page, our debt problem is the result of overspending. 2019 is no different.

We have undergone a 16% property tax increase to fund what? Increased county government employee growth; county government employee pay raises over and above the cost of living again even with low unemployment; millions of dollars on huge construction projects; and the purchase of land (and going into debt to do so) for an event center that is focused on hockey and Austin Pea basketball, which will put the county further into debt, at over $135 million.

With over $300 million now in debt, plus the additional debt of $142 million, plus additional debt for school construction, are county officials really expecting us to believe we will be “pay as you go” and not expect a different outcome this time around? Are our elected officials that oblivious to the financial consequences of their overspending? Are there not going to be “event centers” created by private enterprise off of Wilma Rudolph or the Churchill Downs and Keeneland amphitheater? Is growth not so out of control that more congestion is needed in and around Clarksville?

We the taxpayers are and will be on the hook for paying for all this government spending. Let’s get some sanity back and tell the commissioners to vote down this land purchase and end the event center before more debt is added.

Bill Prettyman

Woodlawn

LETTERS: Local letters to the editor, maximum 300 words, can be emailed to letters@theleafchronicle.com. Include your full name, address and phone number for verification.

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